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(By the way, "swag" is what geocachers call the "goodies" in a geocache. Sometimes you need to buy "swag" so that you'll have something to trade when you find a geocache. You probably carry your own "swag" with you in a backpack - your travel bugs, geocoins, trade items, etc.)

I went to Groundspeak.com to browse the merchandise in their store (they carry official Geocaching.com stuff including travel bug tags) and was surprised to discover they now had a link to their "distributors" - so I clicked on it and wow, they have a nice long list of places to buy "swag" as well as t-shirts, geocache containers, etc. Rather than searching all over the internet when you need something geocaching related, it sure is nice to have a list of (presumably) reputable companies. The list is here. They have a lot of international online stores too.

I was browsing around and found some cool stuff. Check this out from the Geogearstore.com - it's what they call the "Expert Stocked Backpack":

Not only does it come with all that cool stuff, but you get your "team name" embroidered on the backpack! What a great thing for a newbie, or as a gift idea!

You may notice that this is one of the photos I chose for the header of this blog

This geocache has unfortunately been archived, but this was a geocache we found while we were on vacation one summer on Cape Cod. The reason it is attached to a brick is because most of the time this geocache is underwater (the geocache itself is the pill bottle). This geocache could only be found at just about exactly low tide. It was placed far out on what is called the "Brewster Flats" - an area of a bay in Cape Cod where the tide recedes almost a mile at low tide. You really had to plan to try to get to it at just about exactly low tide, because once the tide starts coming in, it comes in fast. In fact, we did get to it at low tide and by the time we walked the 3/4 mile back to the beach we were up to our chests in water just before we reached the shore. Here's a pic where you can see where the geocache is in relation to where the ocean receded:

When we were looking for geoaches to do that year on vacation and we clicked on the map to see where this one was located in relation to where we were staying, it was really funny because it showed it as out in the middle of the bay - and DH and I were wondering how in the world one could get to it?!? Just took some good planning, that's all! :-) My next post will be about one of my most favorite TYPES of geocaches - and it just so happens that type of geocache requires good planning too...

Here's a great example of what would be referred to as a "Cache-N-Dash". A cache-n-dash is a geocache, as the name implies, that can be found very quickly with very little hiking or walking. Some people "pooh pooh" these sort of geocaches, but we enjoy them - they're quick and easy and fun - and a GREAT way to break up a long trip. They're also good when the weather is rainy, too hot or too cold for a hike.

Cache-n-dashes are not the only type of geocache that you can find somewhat quickly. There is another term - "lunchtime cache" which basically means it's a quick enough find that you could possibly find it on your lunch break. A "lunchtime" geocache would generally be a geocache that you could find and be back to your car within 30 minutes or so. There is also a "clock" attribute icon used at Geocaching.com geocache pages that indicates the geocache can be found in an hour or less. (There are no icons for "lunchtime cache" or "cache-n-dash" but you often might see that term in the geocache description or in the comments.)

Anyway, here's our Adirondack Cache-N-Dash!

We drove right up to it! Do you know where it is?

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

We happened to be in the Adirondacks yesterday (checking out our Adirondack property - more on that if you're interested here) and we didn't have the time for anything more than a couple of cache-n-dashes. However we did take a minute to enjoy the view from this geocache location of some ice fishermen on Lake George.

We were happy to be getting back in the nice, warm truck though! It was verrrrry cccccold up there yesterday!

DH is on his way to walk across a frozen pond to get a geocache that you would normally need a boat to retrieve.DH is on the phone with me now as he's walking on a frozen pond hunting a geocache. He's 300 ft away from it right nowDH turning back, ice doesn't seem safe there, trying a different route.DH is 50 ft away from the geocache but needs to get on the frozen lake again14ft away, DH says ice here seems solidHe found the cache!!TNLNSL.DH back on land. Lives to geocache another day!
(Incidentally, I asked DH to call me when he was going to do that geocache because I thought it was unsafe to walk across the ice alone - at least if he was on the phone with me and he fell through, I could call 911. I happened to be on the computer when he called, so I just decided to "tweet" the adventure.)

If you'd like to be around in the event I ever have reason to tweet other exciting geocaching adventures, click on the Twitter "Follow Me" in the right sidebar and come along for some virtual geocaching! :-D

About Me

I am a Geocacher from upstate NY. Our family has found over 700 caches, so don't worry - these tips and advice aren't from a newbie with one find. :-) We geocache mainly in NY, but we cache all throughout the northeast as well. Here you will find info for the beginner, as well as adventures and tales that the experienced cacher will enjoy. Feel free to ask questions!